Official Cornhole Equipment Regulations – What To Look For

Before we get into the equipment regulations, I would first like to strongly recommend buying or building a quality cornhole set, and also a set that is built to proper cornhole regulations. I cannot stress this enough to people that are looking to get into the game of cornhole. In some sports or activities, you can get away with lower quality equipment to start, but cornhole is not one of those games. On the bright side though, if you buy or build a quality board, it will last you a lifetime.

Why does Quality Matter?

There are numerous reasons to buy a quality set of cornhole boards and cornhole bags. Let’s start with the boards.

You need the correct dimensions- 9 times out of 10 when people buy knock-off or cheap cornhole boards, they are undersized. If the boards are too small, it makes the game impossible to play from at the proper distances apart. And even when you push the cornhole boards closer together, there is still barely enough room on the boards to hold 8 cornhole bags. Even more frustrating is when there isn’t enough room for them to land without sliding off the back.

Use the right material- Another big issue is when cornhole boards are made out of plastic and not wood. These are usually very weak, and proper cornhole bags will slide off them very easily. The plastic surfaces also tend to be extremely bouncy when you try to land a cornhole bag on them, making the game extremely difficult. Plastic will also warp and crack over a short amount of time.

Don’t get a cornhole board with thin wood or skinny legs- When you get a cornhole board with the proper dimensions and made out of the proper material, (wood) don’t get the lightest or thinnest material. You will find that the cornhole bags will bounce off the cornhole boards if the legs or the board itself is flexing upon bag impact. Thin material will also start to warp or bow over a year or two being exposed to the sun, (which they usually will be) and the bags will slide off the sides instead of landing and sliding true in the center.

Get the right size and weight for your cornhole bags- 9 times out of 10 if you get cheap or lower quality cornhole bags, they will be too small. They will be hard to throw properly, and any little wind will move them around in the air. Plus they tend to bounce and even roll around upon landing, even when playing on a quality set of cornhole boards.

Official Board Dimensions

The official size of you board should be exactly 48 inches long by 24 inches wide. It should have a 6-inch diameter hole cut exactly 9 inches down from the top of the cornhole board and centered sideways. (12 inches in on each side.) When the cornhole board is set up in playing position, the backside of the board should measure 12 inches off the ground to its highest point on the face of the board. On the front side of the board it should measure 4 inches off the ground to its highest point on the face of the board.

(Cornhole tips- When buying or building your cornhole boards, I would recommend the deck board be made out of wood atleast a 1/2 inch thick, and preferably 5/8 or 3/4 inch plywood for a long-lasting durable set. On a good quality cornhole board the frame and legs are made out of 2×4 lumber.)

Official Cornhole Bags

The official size of cornhole bags should measure 6 inches by 6 inches, and weigh 14-16 ounces. (preferably 16 ounces) Generally they are filled with 2 cups of feed corn or plastic pellets.

(Cornhole tips- I recommend buying an “all weather duck canvas” cornhole bag that is double stitched on all four sides so you don’t get holes in the bags, and the seams don’t split over time. I recommend plastic pellets because they can get wet or moist without ruining the cornhole bags. The feed corn pellets will mold or get hard if exposed to moisture and being an outdoor game it is just a matter of time until that happens.)

Get Creative With Your Set

Now that you know how to properly make or buy your cornhole set, take some time to think of a fun design or an idea for them. I love building them and getting creative with all the different colors and patterns, decals and logos, or even nice wood stain combinations. If your not a builder, no worries. There are plenty of quality and fun cornhole sets to buy. If you have a good idea for a set, there are lots of people that will build your custom set for you and if built properly your cornhole boards will last you a lifetime.

(For tips on where to buy cornhole boards and a complete purchasing guide click here.)

If you have and questions please leave them below, and I will be happy to help you out.